Can



B. B. LIPSKE July 19, 1966 CAN Filed March 2, 1964 INVENTOR.

L P5 K E BENJA B. BY/

United States Patent National Can Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 348,465 Claims. (Cl. 220-47) This invention relates to improvements in containers, and more particularly to cans that include an opening device as a part thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container wall member, such as a can end, that embodies an opening device. The can end and opening device are constructed so that the can may be opened by the opening device without tearing of the material of the can end.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a can having a can end with an opening device secured thereto, and wherein the can end and opening device cooperate with a sealing compound to seal heremetically the end of the can.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a can of the type stated in which the can end has a pre-formed hole therein and a pre-formed slot remote from the hole for receiving a tab that constitutes the opening device. Part of the tab lies against the inside of the can end and is disposed across the hole and part of the tab lies against the outside of the can end remote from the hole. The part of the tab on the inside of the can is held retained over the hole by a sealing compound such as a plastisol, the sealing compound being rupturable when sufficient manual pressure is applied to that part of the tab that covers the hole. This removes the tab from across the hole and opens the can. The tab may have a dome that projects through the hole and to which the manual pressure may be applied.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a can of the type stated in which the tab cooperates with the can end at the slot to fulcrum the tab so that the latter rotates about its fulcrum after the sealing compound is fractured.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a can of the type stated in which the tab, after opening of the can, may be left with the can or may be removed therefrom.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a can of the type stated that is particularly suitable as a container for carbonated or malt beverages.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a can end constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a can that embodies the can end of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the central axis of the can of FIG. 5.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, 1 designates a can end that comprises a sheet metal disc having a central portion 2 that terminates at its outer periphery in an axially extending cylindrical wall 3. At the end of the wall 3 remote 3 ,26 1 ,49 7 Patented July '1 9, 1 966 from the central portion 2, the can end has a radially extending peripheral flange 5.

Radially inwardly of the wall 3 the central portion 2 has a ledge 6 that is raised from the plane of the adjacent part of the central portion, and the ledge 6 is perforated to provide a hole 7. The hole 7 may be any suitable shape, as for instance, the generally triangular shape shown. The metal of the ledge 6 immediately adjacent to the hole 7 has a small inwardly turned lip 10. At the radially inner end of the ledge 6, the central portion has a straight slot 9 which, in the present embodiment of the invention, is of a length greater than the width of the hole 7, that is between the points 11,13, and the slot 7 is substantially along the diameter of the disc.

Projecting'loosely through the slot 9 is a metal tab 14 having a part 15 thereof that lies on one side of the central portion 2 and another part 17 that lies on the opposite side of the central portion 2. Both tab parts 15, 17 are narrower than the slot 9, and the part 15 is narrower than the part 17. Moreover, a band of metal 18 at the margin of the part 15 is infolded to eliminate a raW edge of metal at the periphery of the part 15. Between the two parts 15, 17 the tab has a transversely extending, outwardly struck rib 19 that lies in the region of the slot 9. The rib 19 fulcrums on an edge 21 of the slot 9 to form a hinge for the tab, for purposes presently more fully appearing.

The tab part 17 is formed with an upwardly struck dome 22, the sides of which are tapered. The dome 22 is of the same shape as the hole 7 and projects therethrough to close same. Formed on the periphery of the part 17 is a marginal lip 23 that is turned toward and engages or nearly engages the ledge 6 outwardly of the hole 7.

A continuous band of sealing compound 24 cooperates with the tab to form a hermetic seal across the hole 7 and slot 9. For this purpose the compound 24 is disposed across the junction of the peripheral lip 23 and adjacent part of the ledge 6, and also across the slot 9between the rib 19 and edge 21. The sealing compound 24 may be of any suitable type. Preferably, it is a plastisol grade polyvinyl chloride combined with a conventional plasticizer and compounding ingredients. Several examples of this type of plastisol are disclosed in Wilckens et al. Patent 2,937,404. Sufiice it to say, however, that this plastisol is heat curable to form a non-tacky somewhat yieldable material that retains the tab in place and maintains the hermetic seal under pressures of the magnitude normally found in cans of carbonated and malt beverages. However, the sealing compound 24 is sufficiently frangible to be ruptured upon application of manual pressure of thei thumb or finger against the dome 22 to uncover the ho e 7.

The can end, with the hole 7 and slot 9, is fabricated separately from the tab 14 whereupon the two are assembled by inserting the tab lengthwise through the slot 9. The slot 9 is of such width that the tab fits loosely therein. The tab is retained in closed position across the hole 9, and the sealing compound 24 is applied and cured to seal the slot 9 and hole 7 and also to retain the tab in position.

The can end 1 may be applied to a can body 25 in a conventional manner. Such can body 25 generally comprises a cylindrical body wall 27 of tinplate, blackplate, aluminum or the like, the edges of which are overlapped and solder seamed together to form a longitudinal seam 28. In securing the can end 1 to the can body 25, the peripheral flange 5 and adjacent peripheral material at the end of the body wall 27 are joined by a conventional double lock seam 29. The other end of the can body may have a conventional can end secured thereto by a seam 30 that is similar to the seam 29.

When it is desired to open the can, pressure may be applied against the dome 22 to fracture the sealing compound 24 whereupon the tab rotates about its fulcrum to uncover the hole 7, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. After opening the can and before the contents have been dispensed therefrom, the tab 14 may be held by grasping the tab part 15 so that the tab need not be immediately discarded should there be no waste receptacle available. The tab may be held by the fingers of the same hand that is used to grasp the can during pouring of the contents therefrom. However, should it be desired to remove the tab from the can immediately after fracturing the sealing compound, the tab may be withdrawn from the slot 9 by simply grasping the tab part 15 and pulling the tab part 17 longitudinally through the slot 9.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes, I have herein shown and described .a preferred embodiment of the invention; It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What is considered new and sought to be secured by Letter-s Patent is:

1. A container wall member comprising a sheet of material perforated to form an opening and a slot remote from said opening, a tab projecting through said slot and cooperating with the sheet adjacent to the slot to form a hinge for said tab, one part of the tab being adjacent to one side of the sheet and another part of the tab being adjacent to the other side of the sheet with said one part of the tab being disposed across said opening and accessible thereat for application of manual pressure thereto, and sealing means cooperating with said tab and sheet for retaining the tab across said opening and for forming a hermetic seal across said opening and said slot, said sealing means being bonded to said one part and said sheet, said sealing means being sufficiently frangible to be ruptured upon application of manual force to said accessible part of the tab so that after rupture the tab may swing about said hinge.

2. A container wall member comprising a sheet of material perforated to form an opening and a slot remote from said opening, a tab projecting through said slot and cooperating with the sheet adjacent to the slot to form a hinge for said tab, one part of the tab being adjacent to one side of the sheet and another part of the tab being adjacent to the other side of the sheet with said one part of the tab being disposed across said opening, and sealing means cooperating with said tab and sheet for retaining the tab across said opening and for forming a hermetic seal across said opening and said slot, said sealing means being bonded to said one part and said sheet, said sealing means being sufiiciently frangible to be ruptured upon application of manual force to said tab so that after rupture the tab may be swung about said hinge, said one part of the tab being narrower than said slot so that after rupture of the sealing means the :tab may be separated from the sheet by withdrawing said one part through said slot.

3. A container wall member comprising a sheet of material perforated to form an opening and a slot remote from said opening, a tab projecting through said slot and cooperating with the sheet adjacent to the slot to form a hinge for said tab, one part of the tab being adjacent to one side of the sheet and another part of the tab being adjacent to the other side of the sheet with said one part of the tab being disposed across said opening and having a dome projecting through said opening, and sealing means bonded to said one part of the tab and said sheet and surrounding the opening for retaining the tab .across said opening and forming a hermetic seal across the opening and slot, said sealing means being sufficiently frangible to be ruptured upon application of manual pressure against said dome from said other side of the sheet so that after rupture the tab may swing about said hinge.

4. A can end comprising a disc having means at its periphery for seam sealing attachment to a can body, said disc having a hole and a slot spaced from said hole, said hole and slot each being radially inwardly of said means, a tab projecting loosely through said slot and having one part of the tab being adjacent to one side of the disc and covering said hole and another part of the tab adjacent to the other side of the disc, sealing means surrounding said hole and disposed in said slot and bonded to said disc and tab for providing a frangible hermetic seal across said hole and slot, and means on the disc forming a fulcrum for said tab in the region of said slot so that upon rupture of the seal, turning of the tab in one direction about said fulcrum moves said tab parts away from the respective adjacent sides of the disc.

5. A can end comprising a disc having means at its periphery for seam sealing attachment to a can body, said disc having a hole and a slot spaced from said hole, said hole and slot each being radially inwardly of said means, a tab projecting through said slot and having one part of the tab adjacent to one side of the disc and covering said hole and being exposed thereat so as to be accessible from said other side, another part of the tab adjacent to the other side of the disc, and frangible means for rigidly securing the tab in position and being rupturable by manual pressure against the part of the tab that is exposed at said opening to uncover the hole by movement of the tab relative to the disc.

6. A can end comprising a disc having means at its periphery for seam sealing attachment to a can body, said disc having a hole and a slot spaced from said hole, said hole and slot each being radially inwardly of said means, a tab projecting loosely through said slot and having one part of the tab adjacent to one side of the disc and covering said hole and another part of the tab adjacent to the other side of the disc and remote from said hole, and frangible means bonded to the disc and tab for rigidly securing the tab in position and being rupturable by manual pressure against the tab to uncover the hole by movement of the tab relative to the disc, the tab having a width that is less than the length of the slot to enable the tab to be withdrawn therefrom after rupture of said frangible means.

7. A can end comprising a disc having means at its periphery for attachment to a can body, said disc having a hole and a slot spaced from said hole, said slot and hole each being radially inwardly of said means, a tab projecting loosely through said slot and having one part of the tab adjacent to one side of the disc and another part of the tab adjacent to the other side of the disc, the periphery of said one part of the disc surrounding said hole and with a portion of said periphery being along said slot, said one part having a dome projecting through said hole, frangible sealing means bonded to said periphery of said one part of the tab and said one side of the disc for hermetically sealing said hole and slot and for retaining said tab in n'gid assembled relationship with the disc, the loose fit of the tab at said slot enabling the tab to move relative to said disc upon rupture of said sealing means by application of pressure to said dome to uncover the hole.

8. A can end comprising a disc having a hole spaced radially inwardly from its periphery, a tab projecting through said disc remote from said hole and inwardly of said periphery so that one part of the tab is adjacent to one side of the disc and covers said hole and has a dome projecting therethrough and another part of the tab is adjacent to the other side of the disc, and frangible sealing means bonded to the disc and said one part of the tab for sealing the opening and for retaining said tab in rigid assembled relationship with the disc, said frangible sealing means being rupturable upon application of manual pressure to the dome from said other side of the disc, the fit between the disc and tab at the region of projection of the tab through the disc being such that upon rupture of the frangible sealing means, the tab may move relative to the disc to uncover the hole.

9. A can end comprising a disc having means at its periphery for attachment to a can body, said disc having a hole and a straight slot spaced from said hole, said slot and hole each being inwardly of said means, a tab projecting longitudinally through said slot with one part of the tab being adjacent to one side of the disc and another part of the tab being adjacent to the other side of said disc, said tab having a transverse projection at the slot that cooperates with an edge of material of the disc at said slot to form a hinge for the tab so that turning of the tab in one direction about said hinge moves said tab parts away from their respective adjacent sides of the disc, said one part of the disc having a dome that projects through and closes said hole and a periph eral flange lying beyond said hole and turned toward the adjacent side of the disc and being engageable therewith, and a continuous band of sealing material surrounding said hole and cooperating with said dome to form a hermetic seal across said hole, said band being fracturable upon application of manual pressure against said dome to remove same from across said hole and at the same time turn the tab about its hinge, said one part of the tab having a width that is narrower than the length of the slot to enable it to be withdrawn through the slot after fracture of the sealing band.

10. A can comprising a can body, a can end secured to the can body by means including the peripheral material of the can end and the adjacent material of the body, said can end being perforated to provide a hole into the interior of the can body and a slot spaced from said hole, said slot and hole each being inwardly of said means, a tab projecting through said slot with one part of the tab being on the outside of the can end and another part of the tab being within the can body, said tab having means that cooperates with material of the can end at said slot to form a hinge for the tab, the part of the tab that is within the can body covering said hole and being exposed to the outside of the can end, and sealing means bonded to the can end and said other part of the tab to provide a hermetic seal across said hole and slot and to retain said tab in rigid assembled relationship with said can end, said sealing means being fracturable upon application of manual pressure from the outside of the can end against said exposed part of the tab to remove same from across the hole and at the same time turn the tab about its hinge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,261,117 11/1941 Jack 22053 2,723,778 11/1955 Rabak 220-48 3,142,411 7/1964 Fried et a1. 220-48 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER WALL MEMBER COMPRISING A SHEET OF MATERIAL PERFORATED TO FORM AN OPENING AND A SLOT REMOTE FROM SAID OPENING, A TAB PROJECTING THROUGH SAID SLOT AND COOPERATING WITH THE SHEET ADJACENT TO THE SLOT TO FORM A HINGE FOR SAID TAB, ONE PART OF THE TAB BEING ADJACENT TO ONE SIDE OF THE SHEET AN ANOTHER PART OF THE TAB BEING ADJACENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHEET WITH SAID ONE PART OF THE TAB BEING DISPOSED ACROSS SAID OPENING AND ACCESSIBLE THEREAT FOR APPLICATION OF MANUAL PRESSURE THERETO, AND SEALING MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID TAB AND SHEET FOR RETAINING THE TAB ACROSS SAID OPENING AND FOR FORMING A HERMETIC SEAL ACROSS SAID OPENING AND SAID SLOT, SAID SEALING MEANS BEING BONDED TO SAID ONE PART AND SAID SHEET, SAID SEALING MEANS BEING SUFFICIENTLY FRANGIBLE TO BE RUPTURED UPON APPLICATION OF MANUAL FORCE TO SAID ACCESSIBLE PART OF THE TAB SO THAT AFTER RUPTURE THE TAB MAY SWING ABOUT SAID HINGE. 